HIS 102 1st Edition Lecture 3 Outline of Last Lecture I Europe at the End of the Middle Ages II Religion in Europe III Medieval Society in the West Outline of Current Lecture I Renaissance II Northern Italian City States III Patronage IV Key Concepts of Renaissance Art and Architecture V Humanism VI Northern Renaissance Current Lecture The Renaissance Renaissance rebirth of learning art and culture in the 15th and 16th centuries in Europe o The renaissance impacted all of Western Europe o It was the beginning of a secular society Less focus on religion o Also the beginning of a transition to modernity o Only touches the highest class of society during this time period mostly just rich white males About 1 of Europe s population o Did the women have a renaissance Arguably the women didn t have their own renaissance as this was a time of learning art and culture for rich men In fact conditions for women in this time period seem to worsen o A better broader definition it is a cultural period in the 14th 16th centuries that coincides with medieval Europe It began in Italy and effected mostly Western Europe then later in the long run 17th and 18th centuries reached Europe These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute Northern Italian City States They were very wealthy earning their money through trade and crafts There came to be a lot of political turmoil and warfare o o o o The government system was a republic The number of people allowed to vote was very restricted It was a rule by oligarchies Warfare was brought on as they tried to extend their territories in Northern Italy Along with social and economic turmoil o Turmoil was brought on by the plague mid 14th century Scholars say the exact year was about 1348 The plague arrive in Europe from China by two passages One arrives on ship on the Italian peninsula the other comes through the Eurasian step in Russia on the Silk Road 60 of the population is killed Leads to an economic decline during the time of the plague The renaissance comes out on the other side of the plague Patronage Central and stimulating especially in the arts o Lead to a rising arts scene o The people wanted to view something beautiful in the face of everything that is ugly Art becomes a representation of glory o Art as seen as a political text Example Michelangelo s David as a symbol of the fall of the goliath the Medici family There is a shifting role of the artist o Seen as becoming someone special seen as a genius instead of just a craftsman Example Paying Da Vinci ridiculous sums of money for a painting because he is viewed as a genius vs paying Da Vinci a rate per square foot of art because he is a craftsman Patrons gained social and political status by surrounding themselves with objects of beauty or intellect Churches also recognized the religious purpose of art and gained status through religious patronage Key Concepts of Renaissance Art and Architecture o Humans at the center of the art The first of art depicting 3D anatomically correct humans o Individualism o Realism o Secular subjects A rise in art that isn t based on religion o Not art for art s sake o Gothic architecture vs renaissance architecture Gothic drives your attention upward toward the heavens and God and shows you how small you are in comparison as a human Renaissance draws your attention to the middle of the building coming off as welcoming towards everyone and less intimidating than gothic architecture It isn t very tall making the view feel they are at the center Humanism Educational and cultural development movement that is based on Greek and Roman texts o Mostly a change in attitudes Individualism belief that the individual can achieve excellence without the guidance of the church o Humans have the ability to make and shape his or her own destiny o The optimistic faith in human potential was an exciting new idea Realism Artwork from these centuries show a realistic portrayal of the world o They prided themselves on their accurate view of the world Activism Being wise is not enough one had to exert one s will actively in the world to make a difference o People were encouraged to imitate this active involvement Leads to a secular spirit not anti church or anti religion but instead independent thinkers and independent from the church without focus on what happens in the afterlife Humanist education o More focus on the humanities history literature and philosophy o Focus on self improvement o Historical and literary criticism due to mistranslated and mistakenly transcribed historical texts Northern Renaissance The Renaissance spirit spreads from Italy towards the North and West Spreading becomes easier with the invention of new technologies The printing press and advancements in paper production make it easier to obtain Renaissance texts It begins to spread through students and scholars who found this new way of teaching and learning better and adapted it into their schools Civic Humanism during the English Renaissance Example Thomas Moore 1478 1535 Brings to light the rich abusing the government and the truths about the lives of the poor and offers a new idea of utopia Beheaded in July 1535 for opposition to the king Christian Humanism Example Desiderius Erasmus 1466 1535 Important in the development of Protestantism and addresses what the church s role is supposed to be Secular Renaissance Literature written in the vernacular so anyone could read it Shakespeare 1546 1616 Cervantes 1547 1616 Grimmelshausen 1621 1676 Issues to Ponder How important was the Renaissance How far was its reach How deep was its reach Were all of the achievements of the Renaissance positive